Malta joined the European Union 1st May 2004 and it has been a member of the Schengen area since 21st December 2007.

Malta is a single-chamber parliamentary republic with a head of government - the prime minister - and a head of state - the president - whose role is largely ceremonial. The country is divided into 5 regions. Each has its own regional committee, which serves as the intermediary between local and national government.

There are 6 members of the European Parliament from Malta.

EU - Malta

&nbsp;Follow the Money won the 2025 Daphne Caruana Galizia Prize for Journalism for exposing the hidden financial networks enabling Russia’s sanction-evading oil trade. The&nbsp;<a data-analytics-event-attached="true" href="https://www.ftm.eu/articles/who-is-behind-the-russian-shadow-fleet?share=wge64Sf2j4nGxIjYIzKSgLJ/fUMpaOz82IYM45YI3McuEe5azfrap36CM9vWEYo%3D" rel="noopener" target="_blank">investigation</a>, coordinated by the platform for investigative journalism “Follow the Money” in collaboration with media from Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Greece, Italy, Norway, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom, revealed how Western shipowners earned over 6 billion dollars selling 230 aging tankers to Russia's shadow fleet.

&nbsp;The Prize rewards on a yearly basis outstanding journalism that promotes or defends the core principles and values of the European Union, such as human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, rule of law, and human rights.&nbsp;

The award ceremony takes place each year around 16 October, the date Daphne Caruana Galizia was assassinated. The prize and the €20 000 prize money demonstrate the European Parliament’s strong support for investigative journalism and the importance of a free press.

Over the last few years, Parliament has warned about attempts both in the EU and beyond to undermine media pluralism. Parliament has repeatedly&nbsp;denounced attempts to limit media freedom, and especially attacks against journalists, in any form and wherever they may come from. MEPs were instrumental in the effort that culminated in March 2024 in the&nbsp;European Media Freedom Act, which protects media freedom and journalists' safety and independence. They also pushed for years for rules to tackle malicious litigation, aiming to protect journalists and civil society from strategic lawsuits seeking to silence critical voices, and the EU’s&nbsp;anti-SLAPP directive&nbsp;was finally approved in February 2024.&nbsp;

Daphne Caruana Galizia Prize for Journalism

On the 16th October 2017, the Maltese investigative journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia was killed in a car bomb explosion. Ms Caruana Galizia gave to the Committee of Inquiry into Money Laundering, Tax Avoidance and Tax Evasion (PANA) evidence about her work on the Panama Papers at a meeting in February 2017 in Malta.

Every day journalists risk their lives to help keep us informed. Freedom of Press is considered to be an essential element of democracy by the European Parliament, which strongly supports it within the EU and beyond. Article 11 of the EU's Charter of Fundamental Rights clearly states that “freedom and pluralism of the media shall be respected”.

Press freedom in Malta

Press freedom in Malta (2019-2020)

EP President Roberta Metsola visits Malta, where she meets students from the Mediterranean College of Sport and St Albert the Great College and takes part in a discussion organised by the Malta Business Network.

Roberta METSOLA, EP President, official visit to Malta

Official visit of Roberta METSOLA, EP President to Malta

President meets students at St Joseph School and pays tributeon Paulina Dembska's murder site in Sliema.

Official visit by Roberta METSOLA, EP President to Malta

President's visit to Seifert Systems in Birżebbugia. The company received EU funding recently.

EP Plenary session - Delayed justice and rule of law backsliding in Malta, eight years after Daphne’s assassination

Roberta METSOLA, EP President visit to Malta: speech at the The Malta Institute of Accountants

EP Plenary session - Malta's Golden Passport scheme circumventing EU sanctions against Russia

Roberta METSOLA, EP President visit to Malta - Visit to St Paul’s Missionary College

Roberta METSOLA, EP President visit to Malta - Visit to St Dorothy’s Senior School

Visit by Roberta METSOLA, EP President to Malta - Speech at 'A Women's Archive at the University of Malta'

Visit by Roberta METSOLA, EP President to Malta - Participation at the event 'Celebrating Women who push Boundaries'

Visit by Roberta METSOLA, EP President to Malta - Visit to St. Augustine College

EP President Roberta METSOLA visits several businesses in Rabat (Malta).

Visit by Roberta METSOLA, EP President in Rabat (Malta): extracts from visits to businesses in Rabat (Malta)

Closing statement by Henna VIRKKUNEN, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy, on delayed justice and rule of law backsliding in Malta, eight years after Daphne’s assassination.

Delayed justice and rule of law backsliding in Malta, eight years after Daphne’s assassination: closing statement by Henna VIRKKUNEN, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy

MEPs debate of the debate on delayed justice and rule of law backsliding in Malta, eight years after Daphne’s assassination.

Delayed justice and rule of law backsliding in Malta, eight years after Daphne’s assassination: MEPs debate

Opening statement by Henna VIRKKUNEN, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy, on delayed justice and rule of law backsliding in Malta, eight years after Daphne’s assassination.

Delayed justice and rule of law backsliding in Malta, eight years after Daphne’s assassination: opening statement by Henna VIRKKUNEN, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy

Roberta METSOLA, EP President, addresses the Malta Institute of Accountants. The Malta Institute of Accountants (MIA) provides professional guidance, technical support and continuing professional education to accountants.

Roberta METSOLA, EP President visit to Malta: extracts from the speech at the Malta Institute of Accountants

MEPs debate on Malta's Golden Passport scheme circumventing EU sanctions against Russia.

Malta's Golden Passport scheme circumventing EU sanctions against Russia: MEPs debate

Malta's Golden Passport scheme circumventing EU sanctions against Russia: opening statements by Adam SZŁAPKA, Polish Minister for European Affairs, and Michael MCGRATH, European Commissioner for Democracy, Justice, the Rule of Law, and Consumer Prote

Malta's Golden Passport scheme circumventing EU sanctions against Russia: closing statements by Michael MCGRATH, European Commissioner for Democracy, Justice, the Rule of Law, and Consumer Protection, and by Adam SZŁAPKA, Polish Minister for European

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